Malcolm Turnbull not 'minister for right-wing communications'

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken aim at conservative critics in his own party and the media, telling Parliament he is not "the minister for right-wing communications."

Mr Turnbull has been criticised by conservative commentators, and some Liberal MPs, for appearing to criticise News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch and his publications in a Friday speech launching The Saturday Paper newspaper in Sydney. The Saturday Paper is being published by progressive property developer Morry Schwartz, who also publishes The Monthly.

Mr Turnbull, a moderate, has previously angered conservative colleagues by voicing support for carbon pricing and same-sex marriage.

During the speech Mr Turnbull quipped to Mr Schwartz: "You are not some demented plutocrat pouring more and more money into a loss-making venture that is just going to peddle your opinions."

While many took this to be a reference to Mr Murdoch, Mr Turnbull later said he was referring to US newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst.

Mr Turnbull also mocked Mr Murdoch's The Australian newspaper, saying "there is nothing too small in terms of the deficiencies of the nation ... for them to focus on."

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Addressing critics of his speech, Mr Turnbull, who is currently considering changes to media ownership laws, told parliament on Monday that he would not play favourites among media companies.

"Those who think that this Liberal minister should be like Senator Conroy and seek to persecute or suborned or bully those who do not agree with him have got it completely wrong—they are wrong in principle and they are wrong in practice," he said.

"They apparently would like me to be - just as Senator Conroy was the minister for left-wing communications or the minister for communications that agree with the Labor Party - the minister for right-wing communications or communications that agree with the Liberal Party.

"I am the minister that seeks to ensure that we have the freest and most diverse media we can possibly manage. I am the minister that wants to take away the barriers to competition wherever I can so that as many voices can speak out as possible, and whether they are left or right is of no concern to me in my capacity as the Minister for Communications."

A conservative Liberal MP said "we have our own demented plutocrat in the Liberal Party. Turnbull is a protected species who uses his wealth and status in the media to advance arguments that have no currency in the Liberal Party."